"The Dark Knight Rises" is an Instant Conservative Classic

The third film in the Batman series -- The Dark Knight Rises -- is a direct polemical assault on the French Revolution and its political heirs, which includes Occupy Wall Street and perhaps Barack Obama. I would say that it is the exact opposite of so many revolutionary-wannabe films from Fight Club to V for Vendetta (which has provided the tell-tale Guy Fawkes masks to the Occupy movement), except that in order to be opposite, they must in some sense be comparable and DKR is far superior to the others artistically, commercially and philosophically. The crazed theater shooter, if he turns out to be as much of an attempted revolutionary hero of the poor, the depressed, and the downtrodden as his predecessor at Virginia Tech, will prove to be a better match for the villain in the third film than for the one in the second film.

While superficial analysis has tried to make hay out of the name of the villain, Bane, which is a homonym for Bain, the private equity firm founded by Mitt Romney, the truth is that Bane the villain is philosophically much closer to Bam the President than to Bain the firm. Spoilers from here on:

Bane is a man who speaks for the ‘oppressed’ (his word) masses against the upper classes. He is Gotham’s revolutionary ‘reckoning’ who urges the people to ‘storm’ (again his words) Blackgate prison and release the prisoners within. That’s the moment in the film at which I became sure that the French Revolution theme was intentional. Bane, like Robespierre, the real life villain of the French Revolution, uses the freed prisoners as the vanguard of the revolution and as citizen brigades to roust the affluent from their homes and expropriate their property, dragging them before citizen tribunals before which their guilt is already determined based on their class. They are then executed, judged by the lawless element of the city which had until the revolution been festering on the edge of society.

This film shows no ideological sympathy for the Occupy Movement. Bane, the terrible villain of the film, literally occupies Wall Street, taking control of the trading floor of the stock exchange. Police are hesitant to deal with the problem partly based on class warfare complaints that it’s not their money at risk, but the money of the wealthy Wall Street guys. But a trader explains that it is indeed the cops’ money too: that it’s everybody’s money that is part of the financial system, including cops’ pensions.

Bane was created by Chuck Dixon and Graham Nowlan, two “life-long conservatives,” which is pretty unusual in the world of comic book creatives. He is, as his name implies, a curse, in this case the curse of class warfare. Interestingly, Dixon complained about Rush Limbaugh’s misfire in trying to link the villain with Bain capital as part of some liberal media conspiracy.

How did things get so bad for Gotham? Partly it was a lack of profit. Bruce Wayne had become a recluse in his mansion, shrugging off the responsibility of running his company, and as his inner circle points out, where there are no profits there is no philanthropy. The Wayne Foundation ceased supporting the private religious program for at-risk motherless and fatherless youth who had aged out of the traditional government foster care system. The at-risk children became risky adults and became a feeder system for the army which Bane was gathering in the sewers beneath the city, literally chipping away at the foundations of the old order.

But it was not just a shortage of financial capital that ruined Gotham: moral capital was deficient too. Gotham’s social order was based on a lie: that Batman was evil and that the crusading District Attorney Harvey Dent died as a righteous martyr. As I pointed out in my review of the other two films in the series, the Platonic (and Machiavellian) useful lie is a major theme of the trilogy, and as I expected the lie would be found to be an inadequate foundation for long-term civil order. Alfred Pennyweather, the moral voice of the story, argues that it’s time to stop suppressing the truth, that truth must in the end have its day and be allowed to speak, whatever the consequences. Commissioner Gordon, the promulgator of the lie, is wracked with guilt and indecision about the lie and longs to correct it. Eventually, Bane uses the lie against the city, depriving it of legitimacy. Click below for page 2.

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Comments

Thank you, Jerry, for a great review. Having totally abandoned movies for years, in disgust for all the "subliminal Hollywood messages" in every film, this review might drive me to actually see another movie. Pax vobiscum.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NLORN6B3ZNGCAJTFHWWFUUEY4Q jong

In the end of course the "lie" is more of a procrastination to take care of things and the "great society" is the biggest one of all throwing money at a problem instead of taking care of it. In stead of society growing up money is thrown at the problems along with laws that do not really help but hinder(affirmative action) Ok now we have the set up by the liberals and by not acting against it the endorsement by Conservatives. Now the left will use the lie they have created and try to bring down the structure(or what is left of it) to create a marxist state. Very much the chaos and destruction of the French Revolution. However we are a armed nation while the French were not. This leads to a very different outcome. One where the liberals lose.

Tpatriot

When is Hollywood ever going to assume responsibility for their actions?

http://www.survivingurbancrisis.com/ Silas Longshot

Sounds like it may seriously disappoint the libs and occupiers who were possibly 'misled' by themselves as they viewed the previews, thinking the film was 'on their side'.

http://www.facebook.com/pizzed.off Pizzed Off

Seems the Lib's thought this was a movie about them. They were right. AND wrong. In this case they're clearly the bad guys. One of those wonderful coincidences of where Art imitates Life.

B_R_Deadite99

You do realize that Bane wasn't even a real revolutionary? His goal was to destabilize Gotham, so that he could eventually destroy it utterly with an atomic bomb. Taking control of the city was merely a way to wipe out what the League of Shadows viewed as a festering hive of misery and crime that was beyond hope.

UPSETVET

Complete BS. Why would a person spend, what, $12-15 a ticket a to see such garbage? The movie speaks well for the moral decay of our once great nation. Obama is a failure but, that's not worries me so much. What worries me are those who voted him into office and are trying to vote him into office for the second time.

Yea, unfortunately you're probably right on this one. Obama will win a second term by hook or crook. The free loaders have reached the point of outnumbering those of us who pay the bills. If I was on welfare and never paid a cent in income taxes and had all the entitlements heaped upon me, yea, I'd be a liberal democrat and bow to king Obama. But I'm not, and I've reached the point where I want to vomit everytime I see his face or hear his voice. American patriots love our country and I'm afraid we've let it slip away over the years from our beloved foundations and principles.

Ecoplastican

Scary, huh?

Watchmanonwall

rather get a brick of .22LR. ... you know, for the zombies.

JennieWalsh

see: Yuri Bezminov KGB U Tube and watch his videos. They are true and far more interesting than Batman. He tells what is in store for the leftist fools who work hard to put dictators into power (unknowingly). The wannabe tyrants refer to the leftist fools as "useful idiots". When the tyrants gain governmental power over everyone's life and money, they line up the "useful idiots" and shoot them before they wise up and realize that they have been deceived and used.

TheObserver

Very interesting link, thanks!

JennieWalsh

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Meyer Rothschild, original founder of the international bankster-gangsters/City of London, said, "Give me control of a nation's money and I do not care who makes its laws. Thomas Jefferson said, "If the American people ever allow a central bank to control its money, their children will wake up homeless on the land that their forefathers conquered". The Federal Reserve Act was passed by the criminals in congress when the good congressmen were home on Christmas Vacation. (This is a great example of the Kingdom of Satan in operation). Woodrow Wilson was indoctrinated by the global crime cartel to pass the Federal Reserve Act before he was put up as a candidate for president by the bankster-gangsters. In his later years, he expressed deep regret as he realized that he had destroyed his country. It seems to me that NOW is the time to overthrow that international bankster-gangsters (Kingdom of Satan) who own and control both the Republican and Democratic parties. Gary Johnson, Libertarian, is the perfect third party candidate to succeed in the overthrow of the murderers, war-mongers, liars, thieves and tyrants who are plundering and destroying America. Like Ron Paul, Gary Johnson wants to ABOLISH both the Federal Reserve and the IRS that are financing the Kingdom of Satan and all their evils worldwide. I sincerely believe in THE RON PAUL REVOLUTION. America desperately needs a true REVOLUTION FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE, RULE OF LAW, PROSPERITY, PEACE, TRUTH. United we will stand and prosper, divided we will suffer tremendously. The American people must UNITE to overthrow the international bankster-gangsters and their puppet parties, the Republicans and the Democrats. The Satanists are EXTREMELY CUNNING AND DECEITFUL. Through propaganda, they play with us and against us as though we are their pawns on a chess board. Jesus said, "Be as wise as the serpents and as harmless as doves". We MUST WISE UP, RECOGNIZE THE WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING FOR WHO AND WHAT THEY ARE AND RECOGNIZE THEIR DECEITFUL TACTICS AS THEY PRETEND TO BE OUR "FRIENDS" AND "HELPERS" AND AS THEY PRETEND TO BE PATRIOTS AND FREEDOM FIGHTERS. Pray for God-Wisdom, God-Power, God-Discernment, God-Courage, God-Protection, God-Victory over all the evils of the secret servants of Satan. We are in a battle of life and death, freedom vs slavery, truth vs lies, peace vs war, prosperity vs suffering/poverty. Almighty God and the Great Angelic Host are on our side but Eternal Divine Law requires that we MUST ASK for their Divine Help! Also see: Yuri Bezimov KGB U Tube and watch his videos. He reveals what the global bankster-gangsters have in store for the leftist fools, whom they refer to as "useful idiots". The globalist criminals plan to line them up and shoot them as they have done to the leftist fools in the past.

put you tin foil hat back on. close the shutters. adjust the cloths hangers. there there all is fine. Nothing like taking legitimate concerns and troubles and making them look absolutely horrendous and unrecognizible. This sounds like a leftist attempt to de-legitimize our complaints about what is going on. Jennie, you have been taken over by Satan. The KBG is controlling your fingers and forcing you to type.

http://www.facebook.com/ronald.anders1 Ronald Anders

Interesting connections with Scarlet Pimpernel and Tale of Two Cities. Also, there was and "Elseword" graphic novel, an alternate timeline story which placed Batman in the time of the French Revolution. You might like to get a hold of that if you have not already done so. I definitely want to see this film now.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5WR6KUI7Y4WJ6VPWB6AVYJMH6I Big D

So now we have two potential motives for Aurora: 1. Foment anti-gun sentiment, 2. Blot a conservative parable. Of course, it could be 3. This guy is independently freaking crazy. I don't have any concrete evidence for any of these suppositions.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1132616097 Carmen A. Cantalupo

I guess they are not tolerant of the leftist socialist that are running and ruing America.

Shane

This movie would have been mercilessly attacked by the news and entertainment media had not the OWS movement resorted to violent tactics. It's now easy for people to believe that the OWS could engage in massive violent protests.

Libman

So was the "Texas chain saw massacre" movie, somethin to be proud off, after all its from Texas, the official Gun State .

monkeypox69

Change your name to Libtard - truth in advertising.

Raymond

President Obama decided to do one of his public addresses against the backdrop of an American farm, but the ceremony couldn't get started because of all the flies buzzing around his head. Obama demanded to know why the flies wouldn't leave, so the farmer explained to him, "Well, those are called circle flies. They always circle around the back end of horses." Obama angrily replied, "Hey, are you saying that I'm a horse's behind?" The farmer answered, "No Sir, Mister President. I would never call someone a horse's behind. It's hard to fool them flies though."

Raymond

A first grade teacher explained to her class that she is a Democrat...

She asks her students to raise their hands if they were Democrats, too. Not really knowing what a Democrat was, but wanting to be like their teacher, their hands flew up into the air. There was one exception. A girl named Lucy had not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. "Because I'm not a Democrat." "Then," asks the teacher, "What are you?" "Why I'm a proud Republican," boasts the little girl. The teacher, a little perturbed and her face slightly red, asked Lucy why she is a Republican. "Well, I was brought up to trust in myself instead of relying on an intrusive government to care for me and do all of my thinking. My Dad and Mom are Republicans, and I am a Republican too." The teacher, now angry, loudly says, "That's no reason! What if your Mom was a moron, and your dad was a moron? What would you be then?" The teacher paused and smiled. "Then," Lucy said, "I'd be like you."

michael goodale

Love it ,keep em' coming.

WilliamSpires

Fantastic, great story, Raymond !!!

Raymond

A tourist climbed out of his car in downtown Washington, DC. He saw a man standing near the curb, and asked, "Listen, I'm going to be only a couple of minutes. Would you watch my car while I run into this store?" "What?" the man huffed. "Do you realize that I am a member of the United States Senate?" "Well no," the tourist said, "I didn't realize that. But listen, I'm really in a bind so I'm going to have to trust you anyway."

Jeff

I found the movie of "Batman:Rise of the Dark Knight" to basically show one thing; that Batman, and whatever metaphor he is used to represent, is no match for Bane; his arch nemesis; whom is this formidable, violent, indestructible beast of a man, who beat Batman miserably , and tossed him into the Hell hole of the prison Bane was born and raised in. This is not your daddy's Batman and foes. This is what made the end fight between Batman and Bane so unrealistic. In short, Batman doesn't win, but had to be rescued by Catwoman. Whatever political message the lead characters are supposed to represent, the film sent a terrible one. That is, that Batman and all that he represents (which is supposed to be generally good), is defeated and impotent to eradicate the villain of the story and all that he represents (which is generally evil), which is Bane. "Conservative classic"? Whatever you're drinking, I don't want any.

michael goodale

Actually, Rush said the dems would link one Bane to the other.

sean murry

I guess the the libs and OWS were disappointed that this movie wasnt on thier side to bad.

TLady62

Look forward to watching on Netflix...as I did the other two films.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Jared-Myers/1177000219 Jared Myers

Looking forward to it coming out on DVD

Ladd Prier

Alas, a bit too cerebral for our nation of ganja zombies whose highest aspiration is navigating monthly to the mailbox for the government check while smoking the neighbor's lawn trimmings.

Oldharry

Aparentl Jerry didn't hear Rush but only repeated the media's narrative. Rush said Dems in Washington were already trying to link Bain to Bane... And quoted a Congressman. It's amazing how many quote Rush but never hear him give the quote! They get their info from some liberal news site and keep repeating it as the truth.

http://www.facebook.com/david.smock.18 David Smock

Please God Father fix this problem, please! The floating tool bar that floats on the left side of the screen makes it all but impossible to read this page with a mobile device like my iPhone of iPad.

Barryfs

I have only found one way to "cure" that rather painful intrusion on my screen (at least for an iPad). When you start to read your article double-touch the screen right in the middle on the article you are reading. This should increase the size of the font on your screen ridding it of the tool bar to the left and allow you to see the article clearly. Hope this is an answer to your prayer!

Just don't believe that such a "Dark Knight" is being planned because it's not! Women will only refuse to re-elect Obama(i.e. Their "Dark Knight"), when women stop their intellectualizing about everything & good luck with that premise! Just saying...

Patriot in 2012...

Whoa Jennie! Someone forgot to take their meds today! That was just wwwwayayayayay bit Too much! Sugguest you should have just stopped with the word "Warning," ...and forget all the rest... No one is going to read it.accept your shrink, unless shes from Aurora, where appon I think the direction you seem to be going is to hang yourself, but.lets just get you to turn.yourself in and COMMIT to that as a way to help yoursel, and by all.accounts, society. Go ahead now... Please commit.thyself.... Please. Do it for US! NOW!

Lipman

Here is another one"Texas Chain Saw Massacre".

Greta

The one thing I got out of this article is that the 'left-progressives' will call for Revolution. But the American people won't answer that call. They will stand against it, because the 'movement' will consist of malcontents in this nation - of the immature and illogical. Those who are grown up and have taken on adult responsibility for their own lives are working and taking care of their families, and paying taxes. They don't have time for foolishness. The Revolutionaries are depending on the malcontents, the lazy and the ones whose money comes from the government to march on the working class. In that revolution, the workers, the grown ups won't be present. That isn't a revolution that has any merit.